Dem uses Reagan cutout in House debate

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) used a cutout of former President Reagan during the House floor debate Thursday on a bill to nullify President Obama’s recent immigration action.

Gutiérrez compared President Obama’s executive action to delay deportations of undocumented immigrants to Reagan’s own immigration reforms.

{mosads}”I’m happy that President Barack Obama is following in that great and proud tradition set forward by President Ronald Reagan, that he would rather put families first, the demagoguery and any anti-immigrant policy always last,” Gutiérrez said.

Reagan’s action came after Congress passed an immigration policy overhaul and was meant to address disparities.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) noted Obama’s unilateral action in the absence of congressional legislation was a different situation.

“What we have today is something very, very, very different than what President Reagan did,” Goodlatte said.

But, Goodlatte joked, “It’s always a pleasure to me to see former President Ronald Reagan, especially here in the House chamber.”